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Magazine Article

This year Sony introduced two new CD Mavica models to its line
of digital cameras that record images to 3" CD-R/RW discs. The
MVC-CD350, geared towards the novice and the MVC-CD500-with an
added Carl Zeiss lens-to the advanced photographer.

Images are archived onto the CD as they are recorded, so there
is no chance of accidentally deleting photos. This process makes
the CD Mavica models popular with those folks who are interested in
archiving all of their photos. Simply place the CD into the
computer's CD drive to access the images.

"Our strategy centers on making technology easy-to-use," said
Steve Haber, senior VP for Sony Electronics' Digital Imaging
Products Division. "By matching the design of these new CD Mavica
cameras to a wide variety of users' tastes, more consumers will be
able to enjoy the unique advantages of CD photography."

Fuji-Super Duper CCD With the Finepix F700,
Fuji will be upping the ante on its innovative Super CCD. Dubbed
the Super CCD SR (for Super Dynamic Range), the new technology,
according to Fuji, doubles the number of pixels on the chip,
offering 3.1 million large pixels (S) with high sensitivity to
light, and 3.1 million smaller pixels (R) with low sensitivity to
light, resulting in a dynamic range of four times that of previous
Super CCDs. Or, in other words, you may as well call it the Super
Duper CCD.

Consumers though are apparently going to have to wait a little
longer for the camera. According to Digital Photography Review, the
F700 has been delayed again, this time 'til October 2003. In April,
Fujifilm announced the F700 would be delayed until Summer 2003, for
the same reason cited recently, "A delay in material
procurement."

If the camera does half of what Fuji says it will, the F700 will
be worth the wait for your customers. In addition to the Super CCD
SR, the F700 has a sleek metal body that recalls traditional
film-camera design with the viewfinder centrally located.

Pentax-Mini Me and You Another hot feature of
digital cameras is the form factor or design. Mostly though, the
battle for consumer digital cameras is about a reduction in size.
With each generation of digital cameras sporting smaller and
smaller designs, one wonders how much smaller they can get.

Recent debuts by a number of manufacturers have hit upon
consumers' desire to carry a digital camera with them unobtrusively
wherever they go. These sexy little numbers fit well in a pocket or
purse.

Pentax's Optio S, which debuted earlier this year, fits 3.2 MP
and a 3x optical/12x combined zoom into a body that squeezes nicely
into an Altoids tin. "Don't let the size fool you. This is one
well-built camera, which just happens to be the right size for a
shirt pocket or purse," said Pentax Sales and Marketing Director
Jim Leffel.

A patented sliding lens zoom mechanism allows the lens to fully
recede into the housing, thereby protecting the lens. Smaller
circuitry within the camera further helps to minimize its size.